Metachromasia inhibiting components in amyloid

Reticular and areticular Nissl bodies in sympathetic neurons of a lizard

Sympathetic ganglia of the horned lizard, Phrynosoma cornutum, were fixed in OsO(4) and imbedded in methacrylate. Thin sections were cut for electron microscopy. Some adjacent thick sections were cut for light microscopy and were stained in acidified, dilute thionine both before and after digestion by RNase. In the light microscope two types of Nissl bodies are found, both removable by RNase: (1) a deep, diffuse, indistinctly bounded, metachromatic variety, and (2) a superficial, dense, sharply delimited, orthochromatic sort. Electron microscopically, the former ("reticular" Nissl bodies) corresponds to the granulated endoplasmic reticular structure of Nissl material previously described by others, whereas the latter ("areticular" Nissl bodies) comprises compact masses of particles of varying internal density and devoid of elements of endoplasmic reticulum. The constituent particles of the areticular Nissl material are 4 to 8 x the diameter of single ribonucleoprotein granules of the reticular Nissl substance and seem, near zones of junction with the reticular type, to arise by clustering of such granules with subsequent partial dispersion of the substance of the granules into an added, less dense material. It is suggested that the observed orthochromasia of the areticular Nissl substance is due to accumulation of a large amount of protein bound to RNA and, further, that these Nissl bodies may represent storage depots of RNA and protein.

Histochemical investigation of acid mucopolysaccharides in amyloid, colloid and hyaline

The carbohydrate component in amyloid was histochemically compared with that in colloid or hyaline. Alcian blue, azure A, and periodic acid Schiff were used to stain mucopolysaccharides. In a further attempt to identify various polyanions, staining was carried out with alcian blue containing various concentrations of electrolytes. Methylation, saponification, acid hydrolysis, and digestion with streptomyces or testicular hyaluronidase, or chondroitinase ABC were also employed. The results obtained suggest that the presence of heparitin sulfate in amyloid, of chondroitin sulfate A in hyaline, and of chondroitin sulfate C in colloid.

Acid mucopolysaccharides in hair papillae of the stump-tailed macaque (Macaca speciosa)

Acid mucopolysaccharides in dermal papillae of hair follicles from both bald and on-bald regions of the scalp of stump-tailed macaques were studies histochemically. Alcian Blue, Azure A and Periodic acid Schiff methods were used for staining mucopolysaccharides, and Bromphenol Blue for staining basic proteins. In an attempt to identify various polyanions, staining was carried out with Alcian Blue containing different concentrations of electrolytes. Methylation, saponification, mild acid hydrolysis and digestion with streptomyces or testicular hyaluronidase, chondroitinase ABC, or sialidase, were also used. The results indicate that chondroitin sulphate B is present in the papillae of terminal hair follicles in early and intermediate anagen, and degraded chondroitin sulphates are present in the papillae of vellus and terminal hair follicles in late anagen.